Reader: “Is this all you have to bitch about?”

Just before the weekend, we noticed that a new Jerry Garcia mural had been painted over Tommy Nahulu’s iconic rendering of Johnny Cash on the east wall of the former Bender’s Tavern on 13th, now the current home of Quixote’s. We posted a short item about the piece on Friday…

Input sheds some light on his past and his music

Gustavo D’Arthenay is better known these days as Input, an emerging rapper who’s been grinding hard for the better part of the past decade. With a half-dozen releases and two more — including Bomb’s Over Everything, a seven-track album produced by Supa Hot Beats (aka Will Power, an Atlanta producer…

Jackson Browne

Of all the fiercely talented singer-songwriters to emerge in the 1970s, even among the crowded field of fellow West Coast transplants like Joni Mitchell, Carole King and James Taylor, Jackson Browne has always stood out for his lyricism. Browne’s words eloquently captured the heartache, resignation and bittersweet bewilderment of love…

Calder’s Revolvers

It’s still a bit early to start engaging in any album-of-the-year type of discussion. Just the same, Steady by Your Side, which offers one of the most exhilarating listening experiences of the year by far, warrants inclusion in any such conversation. Yes, Andy Schneider’s burnished vocals and the band’s blend…

Win tickets to see Gwar at the Summit

Update 10/31/12: Contest is over. Congratulations to Jason Dreith. He and a guest will be our guests at the show tonight. Thanks to everybody else for all the entries and even more for reading Backbeat! Keep checking back for more sweet giveaways! Gwar on Halloween at the Summit Music Hall?…

Last call for Bender’s Tavern is tomorrow night

Lest it get lost in all the hubub of Halloween, be advised: Tomorrow night marks a significant and bittersweet moment in the Denver music scene. It’s the last call for Bender’s Tavern, which is slated to change hands in the next few weeks and become the new home of Quixote’s…

Taylor Swift Denver date set for June 2, 2013

Taylor Swift fans — and judging by the enormous first week record sales of Red, her latest platter released last week, that accounts for a great many folks — will be rejoicing at news that Swift is heading back out on the road this spring (to wit, that means 58…

The twenty best scenes from Rockbar’s last call

After last call this past Saturday, Rockbar went dark for good. From the looks of it, the beloved Colfax bar didn’t go gently into that good night, but rather went out with a bang — ladies on tables and babies boozing. Oh what a night, as the Four Seasons once…